Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) will hold a public forum – “What kind of relationship do we want to have with Russia?” – on Monday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the small conference room of the Athens-Clarke County Library. The forum is free and open to the public.
The forum is part of a research grant that CURO coordinator Pamela Kleiber received from the Kettering Foundation, an Ohio-based nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute whose projects include producing moderator guides for National Issues Forums held nationwide every year. The foundation is conducting research on public opinions about Russia’s relationship with the United States through public forums held throughout the country this month. The Athens forum is one of the first to be held.
Kleiber and Jeremy Johnson, a UGA Foundation Fellow and Honors senior from Dalton, will moderate the forum. An earlier forum on the topic was held in April during the undergraduate research symposium CURO sponsors every spring.
Kleiber and Johnson will use printed materials that offer three viewpoints and key information about the topic to encourage new ways of thinking and offer participants the opportunity to consider varying perspectives. A summary report of participants’ responses and video footage from the Athens forums will be sent to the Kettering Foundation for research purposes.
The foundation will use this research as part of a larger project, which brings together U.S. professionals in a variety of fields with their counterparts in Russia to facilitate dialogue on important international issues between both countries.
This project also is relevant to Johnson’s future as he will begin working with the Kettering Foundation in the fall as a research associate. “My work with Dr. Kleiber and CURO has significantly influenced my career plans,” he said. “This forum is an important step in reaching future research goals.”
The May 16 forum will last 90 minutes and refreshments will be served. Interested participants should contact Jeremy Johnson at jeremypj@uga.edu or 706/613-9169 in advance of the forum.
